Boy who had disappeared while picking berries has been found

UPDATE, 1:25 p.m.: A 10-year-old boy was hungry and thirsty after spending nearly 24 hours lost in the Olympic National Forest, and he was very happy Friday to be reunited with his family.

Mason County sheriff’s Det. William Adam says Nathan Hernandez was spotted by a King County sheriff’s helicopter that directed ground searchers to the boy in a heavily wooded area. They gave him food and water. He was checked by medics and returned to his family.

UPDATE, 10:55 a.m.: The King County Sheriff’s Office Air Support team tweeted that the 10-year-old has been found.

ORIGINAL POST:SHELTON, Wash. — Searchers from Thurston, Pierce and Mason counties are searching for a 10-year-old boy who disappeared Thursday while picking berries near Lake Cushman in Mason County.

The sheriff’s office says the family was camping and Nathan Hernandez was picking berries with his sisters when they lost sight of him. The family searched for him until dark and then called for help.

The sheriff’s office says searchers have been using dogs and heat-detecting technology in the overnight search.

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